Choose a Buckwheat Pillow for a Good Night's Sleep

A Buckwheat Pillow or Buckwheat Hull Pillow is filled with the hard husks of the Asian buckwheat plant. The Japanese have traditionally slept on buckwheat pillows and still do today.

The makers of buckwheat pillows claim a number of health and comfort benefits which we'll look at below. 

They are also known as Sobakawa Pillows after the manufacturer of a well known and trusted manufacturer of the pillows. 

My partner has been sleeping on a buckwheat pillow for years and much prefers it to a soft pillow. My sons call it Dad's crunchy pillow! 

1. Buckwheat pillows claim to be good for allergies. The solid buckwheat hulls don't harbour dust and mites like a soft pillow. This makes logical sense though I haven't seen scientific proof. Make sure you buy a good brand though, if the buckwheat hulls aren't properly washed they can actually cause allergies. 

2. Buckwheat pillows are comfortable and supportive. The buckwheat hulls mold around your heald and neck and leep their position. This is good for reducing snoring as it keeps the airways open. (Again we're still waiting for the scientific studies.)

3. Buckwheat hull pillows are great for keeping cool. Air circulates between the hulls and they are much more comfortable on hot evenings. You can even put them in the fridge or freezer before bed for a real cooling effect. 

1. These pillows are crunchy, not soft. This may take some getting used to. Some people just won't like it. I don't, but my partner loves the texture and says I'd get used to it if I tried it. 

2. Buckwheat pillows are noisy! I tried a nap on a buckwheat pillow and woke myself up when I rolled over. The buckwheat hulls make a noise when you roll over. I'm sure you get used to this very quickly but it's something to be aware of. 

3. The normal sized pillows are small, this surprises a lot of people. I guess this is the traditional Japanese size for the pillows. You can get larger Standard, Queen and King-sized pillows. It's worth checking the dimensions of a pillow before buying. 

Many people prefer to choose an Organic Buckwheat Pillow to be sure of its anti-allergenic and eco credentials. 

These Organic Buckwheat Pillows are filled with 100% US Grown Organic Buckwheat Hulls (this means they don't need to be fumigated with chemicals when entering the country.). They also have a 100% Natural Unbleached Cotton cover so they are fully organic.

We like these pillows because they are available in a standard 20" x 26" size to fit standard and twin pillow cases. They are also available in the smaller traditional Japenese size and larger Queen and King sizes. 

You can buy bags of Organic US-Grown Hulls (being grown in the US means they don't need to be fumigated with chemicals on entry to the US.)

You can use these hulls to top up or refill an existing buckwheat pillow. Or to make your own buckwheat pillow to precisely your size and specification. Buckwheat hulls can be used to fill sleeping pillows and also nursing pillows - they are great for supporting a nursing baby. 

You can buy Bags of Buckwheat Hulls in 1lb, 2lb and 5lb quantities at Amazon. 

Once you get used to sleeping on a buckwheat pillow, ordinary soft pillows feel strange. Many buckwheat pillow fans pack their own travel pillow when they go to hotels or to stay with friends. This 11" x 16" buckwheat pillow is ideal to pack when you go traveling. 

It also makes a good toddler, preschooler or small child sized buckwheat pillow. If you have a child that doesn't sleep well it might be worth a try.